04-B Civil Service Minutes
CIVIL SERVICE MEETING
JULY 14, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Philip Cecil. Commissioners present were: Philip
Cecil, Zenetta Fulbright and Sims Norment. Also present were Civil Service Director, Melba
Harris, City Attorney, Larry Schenk and Fire Chief Ronnie Grooms.
Chairman Cecil followed the agenda as outlined. Ronnie Grooms presented information on his
proposal for the adoption of a new performance evaluation system. The new system is a points
system but gives some guidelines for the specific ratings. Sims Norment made a motion to
approve the new performance evaluation system, it was second by Zenetta Fulbright and the
motion was approved unanimously. There was also the suggestion that after this system has been
used for awhile, the Fire Chief may want to come back for revisions if he finds that the system is
not working well for the department.
Melba Harris gave an update on Civil Service Activities. Last month there were 20 applicants
tested and 19 passed for the Police Private position and it appears that we will be able to make
several selections from this eligibility list. There have not been this many applicants to test and
pass the Police Private exam for several months.
There were cuts made in the fire department; however attrition has just about taken care of all of
those cuts at the firefighter level. There are plans to post another entrance level exam within the
next few weeks. We will also be promoting Joe Moore to Deputy Chief and possibly Vance
Woodard to the Training Officer position.
Larry Schenk gave a legislative update to the Commission that included information on the
reappointment of Civil Service Commissioners. The Council may not reappoint a Commissioner
to a 4th term without a 2/3 majority vote of the Council. The legislature passed a new provision
in the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 143 which gives hiring preference to survivors of
deceased line of duty fire fighters. The Commission will need to develop new local rules to
cover survivor preference in hiring. The legislature also added a new provision to the Local
Government Code, Chapter 143 that gave the Civil Service Commission the option of extending
the probationary period for 6 months. The Commission will need to develop new local rules for
this change also.
The meeting was adjourned.
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Melba P. Harris
Civil Service Director
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